I've been a Spurs fan since 1967 and...

[riggi]

My dad said the same last night. He was only 8 in 61 so couldn't really appreciate that side.

 

[Mark_Falco]

Love the optimism of the first post. Really enjoying watching this team develop. But one caveat, I want to see some silverware before I can agree they are better than the team of the early 80s.

As for the EL, I don't think that has harmed us. Our slow start left us with this gap to close. We had already drawn 3 and lost 1 before we had even kicked a ball in the EL

I would say the proof is in the results; you either do well in the EL or you challenge for the title and by falling short you get CL qualification for the next season, not both, it's not possible to do both IMO -even with a big, expensive squad, ask Liverpool.

 

[Mark_Falco]

I've been a Spurs fan since the 1950s and this is the best, most exciting team we've had since the glory days of the 60s imo. Remember that we did it back then without subs, just a core team of 11 and a couple of reserves to cover injuries and being in Europe didn't affect us adversely at all.

Just saying.

Things were a bit different back then I believe - far less games for starters.

 

[TheChosenOne]

...this is without a doubt the best Spurs side I've seen in all that time. My family hail from North London and supporting Spurs runs in our DNA - I just wish I could resurrect my Grandparents to see this Spurs team this season, they would be so chuffed and so proud.

I have seen some great Spurs teams win plenty of trophies in those nearly 40 years, FA cups, UEFA cups and league cups. I've seen some incredible stars wearing the famous lily-white shirt including players that are still household names even today, but I've never seen a TEAM like this one; the power and the aggression, the incredible work ethic and sheer fitness of this team, the youth and the vitality and sheer dynamism is superlative.
I've never seen a team that makes the game look so easy.

I am utterly convinced that had it not been for that obnoxious, festering excuse of a competition; the Europa League, we'd already have the title in our grasp. What did for us was the slightly inferior quality of our bench to cope with that poison chalice of a tournament. Liverpool have a bit more strength in depth at the moment.

This manager, coach, call him what you will (I prefer God!) is simply the best thing to happen to this club in 40 years. With this young team coached by this amazing guy we have a dynasty in the making. We MUST take advantage of this opportunity to dominate for the next few seasons and beyond. Our owners MUST give this guy whatever he wants and support him as if their lives depend on it.

It's high time that my dreams that have flickered on and off for 40 odd years are fulfilled, and if my dreams are fulfilled then yours are too! This is just the beginning.

Blooming glory hunter.. Only since 1967 ???
I been going since 3rd September 1966, fifty years in about 4/5 months time.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Without the EL, we'd've started the season with about 4 or 5 less senior players. We went into the season with a 4-competitions sized squad, whereas Leicester don't.

Yeah course we did.

We've only got ONE striker. Is that enough for 4 comps?

 

[Pellshek]

I was going to start a thread on this very topic yesterday.

I was going to say this is the best team since '62/'63 - maybe even since '60/'61 - but perhaps OP is right and it's '67. But it doesn't really matter, the point still stands: this is our best team since the 60's.

We had the '71 and '84 UEFA Cup winning teams, and the 80's teams that finished 3rd three times and won the FA Cup twice (which was a bigger achievement in those days).

But I'm just old enough to remember those 80's teams, and the current crop IMO is better than them. More consistent, no weak links in the chain, flair players who are just as exciting (Hoddle aside of course), and as a unit, as a team, better all round.

Basically, we've never seen anything like this in our lifetimes. It's a really special moment for Spurs fans, especially those of a certain vintage.

 

[Nigel Spinal]

I believe Turkey is about as far as you would have had to go in the CL in recent seasons? The EL certainly seems less palatable to English teams than the CL as far as success goes, for some reason. Maybe it's the poor quality of the pitches too? I don't see how it can "be proven" when everybody has had different draws anyway!

I don't have the exact stats to hand, but it was something like:

Average distance travelled by a EL team per season = 1940 miles

Average distance travelled by a CL team per season = 1980 miles

 

[Gassin's finest]

I think 'Arry had the right idea the last time we looked a capable team - he gave the EL a very low priority and played the youngsters (I know that could apply to the first 11 but you know what I mean), hence the kids back then got much needed experience and the first string didn't have to suffer the exhaustion of the group stages. That worked reasonably well because despite having an inferior team back then we got two top 4 finishes. Arguably if 'Arry had applied MoPo's thinking of this season, then we would never have achieved that, nor the amazing run to CL quarter finals.

I just don't think we have a strong enough bench right now to have taken the EL and CL qualification as a combined goal. Look at Liverpool's squad and they haven't been able to. Top 4 should have been priority from word go IMO and the EL group stages should have been used instead to blood some of our youth squad. Who knows had we done that then some of them might have advanced even more than they currently have?

It's not wishing for less success it's being realistic and prioritising targets. EL winners or CL qualification with a chance of the title thrown in? Look at the most succesfull teams in the EL in recent years and I think there you have the answer.

Mate don't worry the silverware will come, you don't honestly believe that this season is our only chance do you?

I'm not worried? ...I'm confused how wishing for less chances at silverware results in more.

Pochettino did play the youngsters and second XI in the Europa League... which led to players like Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb etc being able to prove themselves and get first team places... which in turn led to our strong finish and 5th place last season. This season he was starting Erik Lamela and Danny Rose in those same group stages... players who were struggling to convince last season... who are now vital mainstays of this team.

Anyway... I'm not having this conversation again, especially not wanting to derail an otherwise positive thread.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

For consistency it's the best I've seen since 1974, no question

We've had some great cup teams and on our day in certain eras and sides we've been unbeatable at times but for a complete season nothing comes close to this crop

Fantastic effort, attitude and mentality from this lot

 

[Nigel Spinal]

Things were a bit different back then I believe - far less games for starters.

Why do you say that?

The league was 22 teams back then, so that's 4 more fixtures for a start.

The LC started in 1960, so that was around then

And ties all cup competitions could go to an infinite replays until there was a result, whereas now only FA cup rounds 3-5 can go to (one) reply.

 

[Larryjanta]

I have a 2 year old son and another on the way, I'm just hoping I can tell them about the time we won the league so that making them support spurs becomes that little bit easier (I mean, they're being kicked out if they try and support anyone else but with two gooner brother's in law, I was going to be facing a tough challenge, a title and a team that wins trophies and is up there at the top of the league will make the sell that much easier). I'll take the shitty 90s and the midtable 00s to give my sons the chance to see their club win titles during their youth.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Why do you say that?

The league was 22 teams back then, so that's 4 more fixtures for a start.

The LC started in 1960, so that was around then

And ties all cup competitions could go to an infinite replays until there was a result, whereas now only FA cup rounds 3-5 can go to (one) reply.

The game has changed immeasurably. Yeah similar or even less games but players are super human athletes now that cover every blade of grass for 90 mins

Cannot compare then and now. Apples & Pears

I watched the 61 cup final a few years back and apart from Cliff Jones they all looked like Mr Chumly Warner!! You could have a cup of tea and 3 sugars the time they used to have on the ball

Plus playing in soft mud probably helps in causing less injuries

 

[Nigel Spinal]

The game has changed immeasurably. Yeah similar or even less games but players are super human athletes now that cover every blade of grass for 90 mins

Cannot compare then and now. Apples & Pears

I watched the 61 cup final a few years back and apart from Cliff Jones they all looked like Mr Chumly Warner!! You could have a cup of tea and 3 sugars the time they used to have on the ball

Plus playing in soft mud probably helps in causing less injuries

I don't really buy that. The world changes far less than people like to think it does - it makes us feel more purposeful if we think we are improving. About the only thing that has changed in the world in the last 50 years is the shape of phones.

I was watching highlights of the 1958 and 1962 world cups recently. Some of the football played in them was very 'modern'.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

I don't have the exact stats to hand, but it was something like:

Average distance travelled by a EL team per season = 1940 miles

Average distance travelled by a CL team per season = 1980 miles

That's too basic.
How many games each?
The finalists travel further than those that only made the semi's and the semi finalists travel further than those that only made the quarters and so on and so forth.

Stats can easily be skewed.
Try looking at the average distance arsenal travelled during their group games vs us for the last 10 years.

 

[Nigel Spinal]

That's too basic.
How many games each?
The finalists travel further than those that only made the semi's and the semi finalists travel further than those that only made the quarters and so on and so forth.

Stats can easily be skewed.
Try looking at the average distance arsenal travelled during their group games vs us for the last 10 years.

It was a proper academic study and was all averaged out etc. But it was definitely conclusive that CL teams travel further per round than EL teams.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

It was a proper academic study and was all averaged out etc. But it was definitely conclusive that CL teams travel further per round than EL teams.

That's fine but staticians can use selective stats to prove anything they want.
Like;

The non existence of Fergie time based on only the number of points taken by United in injury time.

The Europa league affecting league form based entirely on the number of losses in the immediate game after a europa league match home or away and ignoring further matches.

If they want the stats to say something they'll make the stats say it.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

I don't really buy that. The world changes far less than people like to think it does - it makes us feel more purposeful if we think we are improving. About the only thing that has changed in the world in the last 50 years is the shape of phones.

I was watching highlights of the 1958 and 1962 world cups recently. Some of the football played in them was very 'modern'.

The football may well have been modern but the room and time afforded to players then and now and the difference in fitness between the players then and now is like chalk n cheese

What was the world record time for the 100m in 1958 or the marathon etc...

 

[Ledleys Knee]

The football may well have been modern but the room and time afforded to players then and now and the difference in fitness between the players then and now is like chalk n cheese

What was the world record time for the 100m in 1958 or the marathon etc...

Fitness was similar, but performance enhancing drugs weren't so advanced in the 50s.

 

[Jules Evans]

The best thing here is to have loyal fans to the club. Whether the team rise or fall, we should always be there to support this team.

 

[Syn_13]

...this is without a doubt the best Spurs side I've seen in all that time. My family hail from North London and supporting Spurs runs in our DNA - I just wish I could resurrect my Grandparents to see this Spurs team this season, they would be so chuffed and so proud.

I have seen some great Spurs teams win plenty of trophies in those nearly 40 years, FA cups, UEFA cups and league cups. I've seen some incredible stars wearing the famous lily-white shirt including players that are still household names even today, but I've never seen a TEAM like this one; the power and the aggression, the incredible work ethic and sheer fitness of this team, the youth and the vitality and sheer dynamism is superlative.
I've never seen a team that makes the game look so easy.

I am utterly convinced that had it not been for that obnoxious, festering excuse of a competition; the Europa League, we'd already have the title in our grasp. What did for us was the slightly inferior quality of our bench to cope with that poison chalice of a tournament. Liverpool have a bit more strength in depth at the moment.

This manager, coach, call him what you will (I prefer God!) is simply the best thing to happen to this club in 40 years. With this young team coached by this amazing guy we have a dynasty in the making. We MUST take advantage of this opportunity to dominate for the next few seasons and beyond. Our owners MUST give this guy whatever he wants and support him as if their lives depend on it.

It's high time that my dreams that have flickered on and off for 40 odd years are fulfilled, and if my dreams are fulfilled then yours are too! This is just the beginning.

Only 1967? Bloody gloryhunters...